Speaker Biographies

Dr. Jane Lubchenco is Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Dr. Lubchenco has studied marine ecosystems around the world and championed the importance of science and its relevance to policy making and human well-being. Her scientific expertise includes oceans, climate change, and interactions between the environment and human well-being. A recipient of the MacArthur “genius” award and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, she is former president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the International Council for Science, and the Ecological Society of America. She served 10 years on the National Science Board, which is the Board of Directors for the National Science Foundation. Dr. Lubchenco is the first woman to hold her present position at NOAA.

Dr. Jim Brown is a Distinguished Professor of Biology at the University of New Mexico, a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and a recipient of the Robert H. MacArthur award from the Ecological Society of America. Dr. Brown’s research revolutionized the study of animal communities, particularly in desert ecosystems, leading to the development of the field of macroecology. He was one of the lead authors on the 1993 report that laid out a vision for a “National Center for Ecological Synthesis” that preceded NSF’s call for center proposals, from which NCEAS ultimately was born. At NCEAS, Dr. Brown served on the Science Advisory Board, was a two-time Sabbatical Fellow, and has participated in numerous NCEAS activities over the years.